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Young TEY voices bless
seminary convocation

Convocation participants are front row from left, TEY scholars Rebecca Berberich, Matthew Carpenter and Erin Gordon. Back row from left are TEY Director Pastor Bill Bixby, Pastor Leah Schade, Pastor Chris Weidner, Pastor David Jones and Candace Hill, TEY administrative assistant.

Listen for an hour or so to the refreshing candor of teen scholars in the seminary's Theological Education with Youth (TEY) program and an older adult comes away with an unmistakable impression. Young people speak theologically with refreshing candor. Give them a voice and they will help to grow your own adult world as they grow themselves.

On hand with their pastors for a special TEY convocation December 10 were Rebecca Berberich of Reformation Lutheran Church, Media, PA; Matthew Carpenter of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Gilbertsville, PA, and Erin Gordon of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Tabernacle, NJ. TEY is a partnership of Lutheran seminaries (LTSP and Gettysburg), which creates meeting places for theological and vocational discovery with high school disciples.

For example, ask them about the complexities of living in a post-September 11 world with its challenges to come to terms with other faith perspectives.

Rebecca Berberich told the seminary community she has struggled to search out other faith perspectives because she hasn't always been sure the Lutheran tradition is one she could be comfortable with. "I've tried to deeply experience other religions," she said. "I'm convinced, and I sometimes get angry about the ignorance people have about Islam since September 11. The religion itself has nothing to do with the violence we've experienced." She said the violence approach is a perspective held by a small percentage of Islamic adherents, and said she has discovered that the variety of faiths across the globe have much in common as they relate to a loving God. She said she believes Americans need to keep in mind that other places and cultures regularly experience terrorism, too.

Erin Gordon said the aftermath of September 11 pointed out "that we need connections. We need to get to know what others believe and be accepting of others in their beliefs." She said that a TEY summer academy course on comparative religions led by Wagner College Professor Walter Kaelber had helped her to come to a greater understanding of her own faith.

Matthew Carpenter, who is contemplating a career as a pastor, said that after his TEY experience "I am more accepting now of other cultures. I respect more people with other religious perspectives. I think it is important that when you teach religion to others that you don't shove it down their throats." He said his appreciation of other faith perspectives would do nothing, however, to lessen his fervor to talk and teach about Jesus Christ.

The trio talked a great deal about the transforming impact of the summer academy for them in 2002. "The experience got me back in touch with real world applications for my faith," Erin Gordon said. Rebecca Berberich was highly complimentary of LTSP mentoring Professor John Hoffmeyer and TEY's efforts to help scholars study religions comparatively. Matthew Carpenter said that before TEY "I sometimes wondered if I was the only one who felt the way I did about faith. At TEY I got to know really well others who have the same feelings I do." Carpenter said the experience, which included visiting Latino people of faith in Brooklyn, NY, "changed (dramatically for the better) my opinions about Latin American people." He acknowledged having prejudice beforehand.

Also sharing perspectives about their faith journeys and endorsing TEY were Pastors Chris Weidner of St. Luke's in Gilbertsville, Leah Schade of Reformation, Media, and David Jones of Lord of Life, Tabernacle.

Weidner summed up the impressions of the pastors. "I wish I had had a TEY program to be a part of when I was growing up," he said.

TEY sponsors four ministries. For the past several years, the program, funded in part by Lilly Endowment Inc. has conducted a Summer Theological Academy at Wagner College for dozens of high school seniors. It's also led biblical and theological conversations with counselors in training who are part of Region 7 outdoor ministries. Beginning this academic year, TEY is sponsoring an Affirmation of Baptism festival for ninth grade youth and a Crossroads Event at Gettysburg Seminary for juniors in high school. For more information on how to be part of a TEY event, check out the TEY location on the Eastern Cluster website.